Do you remember before computers?

My interpretation of "modern computer" is "calculating machine that did not use vacuum tubes". Most people here seem to define it, though, as "Something that sits on your desk, burns CD ROMs, and is connected to the Internet."

To these people, I ask: What is the difference between option one and option two?

 

There were computers between the room size vacuum tube monsters and the sit on your desk personal computers. They used transistors and then eventually circuit boards.

I was vaguely aware of them in the 60s because my Dad designed testing equipment for the computers used in the Gemini and Apollo space flights.

My first personal computer was a Mac "stupid". It was a 512K with no harddrive. The operating system was on the same disk as the program. Eventually I got an external 80 harddrive to install the software on. That was the early 80s. But it was not internet capable. My first internet capable computer was a Performa. It used a dial up modem. I got that in the 90s. Last year I finally moved to a cable modem with service through Cox Cable. And only because the County Office of Ed discontinued their dial up ISP program. I mean....$40.00 a year? You can't beat that with a stick. Now I pay $40.00 a month. Ouch.

 

Yeah, and model trains! Maybe we should start a new thread.

 

Hey!
I had one of those crystal radios,bought it at Kress's Five & Dime.
It did not have a transistor,just a small rock of crystal.
First computer I had access to was a Wang,wonder what happened to them?
I drove a yellow 1960 VW convert. in high school,gas was a 25 cents a gallon.
Used to go what seemed forever for a buck.
Many cars later I have come full circle to a Prius.
Gotta love the mpg!!:yo:

 

Was it a narrow guage train? Here is a link to a tourist attraction that operates during the summer in the Santa Cruz area: Roaring Camp Railroads -- Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow-Gauge Railroad Fares & Timetables

People are going to hound you over this.... BTW, what was the difference between option 1 & 2????:madgrin:

 

What about softwiring? I used to program racks of relays and counters with snap leads (see photo, Catania 2002). We also had digi bit modules and mac panels (a great advance - I'll try to find a photo). To run a new program, you switched out the mac panel - the logic was wired by hand for each experiment and you had several panels hanging around to run.

I remember my Loinel trains fondly and I finally (just a couple of months ago) put away my kids slot car track that had been sitting in one of the sheds (assembled) gathering dust.

 

i do remember only because we were so poor in 89-94 My dad was a Sgt in the marines, my mom barely worked as an art teacher on base..we made due with on base cable(7 stations) and VHS was a big deal. Then he made more money etc and we bought a computer in 96..i was hooked, the first night he brought the compaq home i was all over it like white on rice...and have been hooked since.

btw we were not dirt poor, but poor enough not able to afford a computer or some other cool stuff in the early/mid 90's

discmans cost 90 bucks for petesakes=)